We have proudly been serving the Coachella Valley since 1973. Our neighborhood center is located in Palm Desert at 75-105 Merle Drive, Suite 100 and is easily accessible via public transportation and SunDial Access, in addition to having ample and convenient parking.
Location Details
Address
75-105 Merle Drive, Suite 100
Palm Desert, CA 92211
New Rancho Mirage location coming this fall!
Hours
Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM PT
Phone
(760) 321-1111
Director
Melanie Hoyt-Ferrone
Available At Coachella Valley
Service
Braille Institute’s trained Orientation & Mobility specialists are here to help you find your way around again for a new normal that keeps you active. We’ll work with you one-on-one so that you can be on the road again either alone, using a white cane, or with a guide dog. We also work with your caregiver to best support them as a human guide.
Class
Learn microwave cooking techniques to prepare healthy and simple recipes safely and successfully.
Meet the Director
Melanie Hoyt-Ferrone
Coachella Valley
New for the Coachella Valley
Breaking Ground on New Coachella Valley Center
Braille Institute’s new home in the Coachella Valley is fast becoming a reality.
On May 6, 2026 we broke ground on a new 5,200-square-foot center in Rancho Mirage. The new facility is expected to open in fall 2026. Through this center, we will build on our 53 years of free service to people with visual impairments across the Coachella Valley.
This facility represents our commitment to meeting the growing need for our services in the Coachella Valley — whether someone is coping with the first signs of macular degeneration or navigating more advanced vision impairments.
Community Resources
Our Coachella Valley neighborhood center is serving a broad region which includes Palm Springs to Coachella/Thermal/Mecca, the Banning/Beaumont Pass and Morongo Basin to Twenty-Nine Palms. You will find a kind and caring staff ready to assist you in navigating your way to an independent life. Here’s additional helpful resources in the area:
Mizzell Meals On Wheels – Call 760-323-5689
Cathedral City Senior Center – Call 760-321-1548
Palm Springs Mental Health – Call 442-268-7000
Jewish Family Service of the Desert – Call 760-325-408
Joslyn Center – Call 760-340-3220
For all resources, call – 211
Online – Connect IE – Community Health Association
